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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1896)
Io Sa a MR. BRYAN AND YALE. What they Say About the Trouble on the Green. ‘* FOR THIS RELIEF, MUCH THANKS.” (Wichita (Kan.) Eagle.) There is a conviction prevalent in the country, and which has been grow- ing stronger year by year, that old historic Yale has degenerated into a school of snobs, sports and roughs. Coarse sons of coarser fathers, sons whose inherited brutality finds a shield in the money of the parents, are sent there by the hundreds for. an educational veneer, for a gloss of that respectability which is supposed to be conferred by this school of once high character. Yale is crowded with that stamp of youth whose heredity is of the vulgar, is brutal, whose am- bition is obstrusive display, and whose highest notion of an education is one constituted of an expertness at the gaming board, a conversancy with all the ins and outs of the low down and disreputable, the whole . embellished by an acquired expertness with the boat oar and. ball .bat....What»with no end of loud clothes, unlimited impu- dence and ‘an inexhaustable supply their success at Yale is as- sured. A few of them receive their graduation papers, more do not, but they all alike drift back to the opu- Jence of their city homes,:ninety-nine out- of every hundred of them utter failures, to ‘become. either barnacles or society ulcers, wholly incompetent and unclean. .A mob of this character and make-up of Yale students, at New Haven, on Thursday morning, attempted to break up a citizen’s meeting which was be- ing addressed by a candidate for the most honored, if not the most exalted position in the world of to-day. What with howls, cCat-calls, screeches and roars Mr. Bryan could not be heard, finally, as we should judge from our telegraph reports, desisting and retir- ing in disgust. These proletary mush- rooms and ignoble shoots of ignorance and money arrogance would have in- sulted a nation had they been equal to such a thing. There was a time in the history of that institution when these rowdies would have been made to an- swer for their outrage, but that was when Yale was governed by brains and exalted ideals, and not by ser- vile cultivators of the brawn of the bruiser and of mammon. THE ACTION HELD TO BE JUSTIFIABLE. (N. Y. Sun, Gold.) The students gathered in a strong force as was natural. Practically they were on their own ground. They ex- pressed their feelings against repudia- tion with the vigor and vociferousness of youth and they had a right to do it. They ought to have done it, and the sentiment to which they gave ut- terance was honorable to them. The boys made a great noise cheer- ing for McKinley and yelling and jeer- ing at repudiation so that Mr. Bryan could not be heard for several min- utes. If they had applauded him in- cessantly for even a full half hour would there have been any complaint of their preventing him from starting out in his speech? *x * * GOR ee ee are General Webb talks arrant nonsense, vet he is the President of an Amer- ican college and an instructor of American youth. When Mr. Bryan began his speech he proceeded to in- sult the students by insulting their fathers. Would they have not been contemptible fellows if they had not resented his words with all the force of expression in language of which they were canable? Treat such a man with respect! It would have been disgraceful to them if they had kept silent. MR. BRYAN’S DELIBERATE LIE. (New York Tribune, Gold.) He was justifiably indignant at in- terruptions while he was speaking in New Haven, but that was not the spirit which prompted his assertion that students at Yale were spending the ill-gotten zgains of their parents. money . YALH ALUMNI Wee KRLY ————— The deliberate lie as to nearly all of them had another motive. He meant to kindle the envy and jealousy of the unlettered by the suggestion that on- ly the sons of swindlers could in these days get a liberal education. But in his presence at that moment, as in every other gathering of Yale stt- dents for half a century, there were young men who were supporting themselves by the most painful strug- gle in order to obtain an education, and others in great number whose parents were denying themselves the comforts of life in order to secure that crowning advantage for their sons. MAY JUSTIFY MRS. POTEAT. (New Haven Palladium, Gold.) A few more outbreaks like that of yesterday and those who censured Mrs. Poteat for her sweeping denul- ciation of Yale last Fall may be in- clined to think she had more ground for her onslaught than she was given credit for. CARRIED TOO FAR. (Chicago Evening Post.) While it is doubtless true that the students acted without malice or aliy serious intentiOn- to interfere with the American right of free speech and free assembly, there are times and oC- casions when love of fun and mischief. can be carried too far. YALE COLLEGE KU-KLUX. (Cincinnati Enquirer, Silver.) It is a weak cause which does not bear discussion of the Yale College Ku-Klux. The speech which Mir. Bryan was not allowed to make—how- ever able and eloquent it would have been—could not have done the cause of the people nearly as much good as will the shameful story of the “sound money” ruffianism which the educated, thoughtful and refined young sprigs of sham aristocracy at New Haven visited upon him. FOR PROF. PHILLIPS AND THE FACUL?S (Sacramento Bee, Silver ) owe One can scarcely censure the Yale students for being hoodlums' when the Faculty rather encourage them therein by looking upon their ungen- tlemanly and outrageous conduct, as a boyish prank to be laughed at. In- stead of expelling every young man concerned in the assault upon free speech at the recent Bryan meeting at New Haven the Faculty rather en- courage them therein, astonished that so much criticism should have been given to it. In fact, Professor Phil- lips publicly declares: ‘‘No one regrets more than I do, the demonstration made at the Bryan meeting, but it was done more to have a little fun with Bryan than for anything else, and he missed the opportunity of his life by not treating the matter as a good-na- tured attempt at ‘jollying.’ By the utterances of a few pleasant and timely sentences he could easily have won over the boys.’ The best way to have won over those ‘‘boys’’—most of whom are prob- ably old enough to vote—would have been by means of energetic exercise with baseball bats. Bryan did not miss the opportunity of his life at New Haven, but that opportunity came to him unsought. The shameful manner in which a great American citizen, the chosen champion of the cause of the people was treated by a lot of young up- starts, whose only claim to considera- tion is the very unworthy one that their fathers happen to have money, has helped Bryan wonderfully, and has brought many and many a new recruit into his ranks. The additions’ to his vote which this result has made will be greatly increased when the people , thoroughly comprehend that the Faculty of Yale College do not consider the case one meriting the se- verest punishment of the guilty hood- lums, but rather one which should be laughed at, and which Bryan should regard as a good joke. When a great college like Yale be- comes not only the apologist for, but even the champion of, disgraceful hoodlumism ai#d brutal blackguard- ism, it is no wonder that thinking citizens pause and ask whither this country is drifting. When the Fac- ulty of such an institution pats hood- lums on the back for grossly insult- ing the man who is fighting the mon- eyed trusts and Shylock syndicates of the land, it is no wonder that the peo- ple fear that this country is drifting into an imperialism of class and caste—an imperialism, not of birth, nor of brains, but of sordid cash, often ill-gotten—a catfish aristocracy, for the catfish is the prize hog of our rivers. If the best that Yale can do is turn out braggarts and hoodlums to insult aman of far more worth to this country and to the cause of human- ity, than all their fathers and all their father’s descendants, then Yale should forever close her doors out of respect to decent American citizen- Ship, and out of very shame for her own conduct. ‘‘ LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON,” (Richmond Dispatch, Gold.) ; It is but a single step from the coercing of the vote of a workingman to silencing the man who is pleading his cause. -In the absence of argument, force is the nearest weapon at hand. It was a case of like father, like son; _they were carrying out the lesson of the home. The great conservative sentiment that stands between’ the two extremes of life in this country is quick to. note an evil symptom in the lower classes, shall it be less on its guard against demonstration from above? : PRETTY BIT OF FICTION DISCUSSED. (Springfield Dally Republican.) It is hardly to be believed that the Yale rowdies had planned an abduc- tion of Bryan, and the treating of the eandidate to an old-fashioned hazing, while he was in New Haven. But since such a story has been told it May be remarked tnat-both the coun- try and Yale College are lucky in hav- ing the rowdyism extend no further than it did. Had it been carried to the point suggested, we should not have cared to stake much either on McKinley’s election or the rising fort- unes of Yale in the immediate future. CANNOT BE EXCUSED. (Waterbury American, Gold.) If these young men are to be ex- cused for howling down a speaker who disagrees with them, on what ground can we protest against a rougher in- tolerance which vents itself in mis- siles? We know Yale’s youth well enough to know tkat Mr. Bryan’s cause was not aimed at especially, and that their attempts to “‘break up a show” are aimed impartially at Barnum’s circus and Dr. Parkhurst’s lecture. LIKE THROWING TORPEDOES AT ELEPHANTS. [New Haven Leader, Gold.) If the misguided action of some young enthusiasts, who were not all Yale men, kad been premeditated, the affair would have beer deserving of more than a rebuke and condemna- tion. But we cannot believe that it was a premeditated act directly against Mr. Bryan. The impulses of a college Freshman are at times won- derful things. It seems to us that the spirit of deviltry that spontane- ously found utterance yesterday was the same that imbued the students who threw torpedoes at the Barnum elephants some years ago, thoughtless- lv oblivious to the serious conse- quences that might follow. Both were boyish freaks, admittedly in bad taste, it is true, but we do not think that yesterday’s freak was a malicious one. RR Ie Rae ce me oe To be sure there was more of mis- chief than of malice in Thursday’s cerformance. The Yale men cheered and jeered at Mr. Bryan much as they | are accustomed to do when a strolling player is giving an exhibition of his powers upon the Campus. It is plain Tighe, Laue, Wheeler & Fariham, Aitocuecs at Law, 109-112 Manhattan Building, St. Paul, Minn. — " AMBROSE TIGHE. JOHN W. LANE. ; HowaARD WHEELER. CHARLES W. FaAaRNHAM. that they did not appreciate the fact that Mr. Bryan represented a large number of American people, and that while Yale men generally believe his doctrines to be entirely heretical, he is entitled to a respectful hearing. It is not that Yale men do not ap- preciate the generous treatment of op- ponents. No one who has witnessed an athletic contest at Yale Field can fail to notice how pluck and skill is impartially applauded and how the faintest cheer of joy at the advance- ment of a Yale man is hissed down, if the advance be occasioned through the blunder or injury of an opponent. The discourtesy to Mr. Bryan was occasioned only through thoughtless- ness, but it is a pity the young men did not pause and reflect, before bring- ing dishonor upon themselves and upP- on Yale. ‘OUT FOR A LARK. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Gold.) The students were out for a lark to see Bryan. Their exhuberance of spirits got the better of them, and no one regretted the result of their hi- larity more than the students them- selves; many of whom are only eight- een to twenty years old. Candidate Bryan, who is a ‘‘boy” orator himself, and was once a college student, realized the situation and seemed to keep his composure under the trying circumstances. —_— 4 > Opening Meeting of the Wale Wnion. The first meeting of the Yale Un‘on for the present year was held last Fri- day evening in Union Hall. The fea- tures of the evening were addresses by prominent members of the University Faculty on the.subject of ‘““Debatine” and the value of such an organization as the Yale Union. The attendance ait the meeting was good, considering the other events, which occurred the Same evening and also called for at- tendance of the undergraduates. The first speaker. was Dr. Raynolds, who was received with enthusiasm, his assistance to the debaters last year being remembered and appreciated. He emphasized the idea that in inter-col- legiate debajteS the object ‘should not be to down someone but to give a good exhibition of argumentative de- bate and oratory. At the same time, every effort must be made to win. Prof. W. G. Sumner spoke of the great value of oratory, which he de- fined aS the power to “electrify’’ an audience, and mentioned the Chiicago speech of Hon. W. J. Bryan’as an ex- ample of his power, which cannot be despised no matter upon which side of a question it is used. Oratory, in its correct sense, is of value to man in every profession. Debating is a battle of arguments dressed in oratory and delivered extemporaneously. Prof. A. M. Wheeler closed the list of speakers. He spoke of oratory as the power to put ideas simply, clearly and forcibly, in the best form for the ordi- nary audience to hear. Correct modu- lation of the voice, graceful appear- ance and gestures are important fea- tures in the making of a true orator. —_—___+4—____—_ Sophomore German Committee. A meeting of the Sophomore class was held in Alumni Hall last Tuesday evening to elect a Sophomore German Committee. G. Parker, ’98, presided, and on the informal ballot the follow- ing men were nominated: Griswold, 129; Wright, 91: Warren, 72; Cheney, 58; Powers, 63 ; Noble, 47 ; Darlington, 45; Chambers, 39 ; Day, 38 : Brayton, 837. On the final ballot the: folowing men were elected: William Edward Schenck Griswold, of Erie, Pa... 175: Harold Clark Cheney, of New even 1384; Thew Wright, of Buffalo, N. Y., 121; Henry Wick Chambers, of Cleve- and, O., 111; Charles Alonzo Powers, of Cleveland, rey 110.
